Pressure cleaning apparatus



May 14, 1940. P. A. CLARK PRESSURE CLEANING APPARATUS m m m m W A Filed Dec.

Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PRESSURE CLEANING APPARATUS Paul A.

Clark, Davenport, Wash, assignor to Thomas Oldt Gutelius, Rome, N. Y.

Application December 24, 1938, Serial No. 247,698 1 Claim. (Cl. 299-84) My invention relates broadly to pressure cleaning apparatus and more particularly to a construction of portable hand operated pressure cleaning apparatus for effectively removing dirt, grease and surface accumulations of all kinds.

One of the objects of my invention isto provide a construction of pressure cleaning apparatus which may be inexpensi ely manufactured on a quantity production basis and which may be manually moved within confined spaces for forcing a. cleaning spray over the surface to; be cleaned.

Another object of my invention is to provide a compact construction of pressure cleaning apparatus embodying a reservoir for cleaning fluid which substantially surrounds a pressure distributing pipe which extends through the reservoir with a tapped connection between the reservoir and a cleaning fluid distributing conduit which extends concentrically within the pressure distributing conduit for delivering pressure cleaning fluid to an atomizing nozzle at the end of the pressure distributing conduit with means for regulating both the pressure and the amount of cleaning fiuid supplied to the atomizing nozzle.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of pressure cleaning apparatus having a reservoir for cleaning fluid substantially surrounding a pressure distributing conduit with a connection between the reservoir and a fluid conveying tube and with a pressure equalizing conduit extending from the reservoir and terminating in an opening within the manual supporting means for the pressure cleaning apparatus.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of pressure cleaning apparatus embodying a compactly assembled reservoir for cleaning fluid and a pressure distributing conduit having means for manually supporting and moving the pressure cleaning apparatus and under control of the same hand of the operator, adjusting the pressure supplied to the pressure distributing conduit for correspondingly regulating the spraying of cleaning fluid over the surface to be cleaned.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the construction of pressure cleaning apparatus set forth in the following. specification by reference to the accompanying drawing in which: t

Figure l is an elevational view partially broken away and shown in section for explaining the assembly of the pressure cleaning apparatus of my invention; Fig. 2 is a lateral sectional View through the pressure cleaning apparatus taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a lateral sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 5 showing the relationship of the fluid conveying conduit with respect to the pressure delivering conduit; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view partially in elevation showing the construc tion of atomizing nozzle employed in the pressure cleaning apparatus of my invention; Fig. 6 is a pictorial representation illustrating the application of the pressure cleaning apparatus of my invention for the cleaning of automotive engines and parts thereof; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view partially broken away and illustrated in section showing one method of adjusting the pressure applied to the pressure cleaning apparatus under manual control of the operator by the same hand with which the pressure cleaning apparatus is supported and directed during cleaning operation.

Referring to the drawing in detail, reference character I designates a pressure distributing conduit in the form of a tubular memberextending through the reservoir l2 which contains the cleaning fluid. Avalve 2 is provided on pressure distributing conduit I for controlling through the manually adjustable valve member 3 the pressure delivered through the pressure distributing conduit i. for establishing connection with the flexible air hose 5. The flexible air hose 5 may lead to the A hose coupling 3 is provided on valve 2 .30

usual compressor available in a service station. I

The end of the pressure distributing conduit 1 is curved as represented at 6 to facilitate entry of .35

sure distributing conduit l is provided with a flange 28 thereon against which a gasket 29 is seated and against which the end of annular sleeve 8 of nozzle t is firmly screwed.

The pressure distributing conduit I has spaced. flange members 10 and Il suitably secured thereon in spaced positions depending upon the axial length of the cylindrical reservoir l2. The cylindrical reservoir I2 is centrally apertured at each end and after being centered upon the flange members 10 and H is welded to the flange members l0 and H as indicated generally at. M and 5. The reservoir i2 is provided with a filling plug I6 which is screwed into the tubular wall of the container. The reservoir 12 is filled with cleaning fluid represented at H. A breather pipe l8 extends from the tube of reservoir l2 and projects through the hollow tubular handle I9 which is connected with the upper portion of the reservoir l2. The end of the breather pipe I8 is represented at terminating within the hollow interior of the tubular handle I9 insuring the free flowing of the cleaning fluid I! through the outlet pipe 2| and through adjustable control valve 22 to outlet tube 23. Outlet tube 23 passes through the Wall of the pressure distributing conduit I exterior to reservoir 12 and connects to the axially extending tube 24 centrally within pressure distributing conduit l. The axially extending tube 24 has a central internal bore 25 as shown which is supported in concentric relation to pressure distributing conduit i and positively spaced with respect thereto by means of spider arms 25.

. The axially extending tube- 24 is abruptly reduced in cross section at the zone 3! which termi nates immediately adjacent the annular interiorly projecting shoulder 38 in atomizing nozzle 9 providing an annular zone 32 intermediate the coacting spacially related annular edge portions 39 and 3! through which the air under pressure from pressure distributing conduit 3 is forced. The axially extending tube 24 extends from the abrupt shoulder 3! and is tapered along its exterior wall as indicated at Z'Eterminating in the end 3% which coacts with the narrowed section 33 of the atomizing nozzle 9. The narrowed section 33 is the reduced section of the nozzle which is interiorly tapered from the interior annular edge 39. Atomizing nozzle 9 is provided with a further interiorly tapered zone beyond the end 34 of the axially extending tube Z l as shown at 35. Immediately adjacent the narrowed zone 35 I provide an enlarged mixing chamber 35 interiorly of the atomizing nozzle 9. This portion of the nozzle is again tapered to a narrowed zone 3'! immediately adjacent to which there is an en larged mixing chamber 38. Chamber 38 has the interior walls thereof tapered to the discharge aperture 38 in the end of the atomizing nozzle.

By reason of the succession of the mixing chambers 36 and 38 intermediate the tapered portions interiorly of the atomizing nozzle, the cleaning fluid delivered from the end 3 3 of the axially extending tube 24 is broken up into particles and thoroughly atomized under the action of the compressed air rushing by the narrowed gap or zone 32 before being delivered as a high pressure spray from the discharge aperture 39 at the end of atomizing nozzle 9.

In lieu'of the manual adjustment of valve 2 by grasping the hand wheel 3 as illustrated in Fig. 1, I may provide means for regulating the pressure control valve by the hand of the operator which also serves to support and direct the pressure cleaning apparatus. In Fig. '7 I have shown a valve 40 disposed between pressure delivering hose 5 and pressure distributing conduit l where the valve is adjustable by valve stem 4|. Valve stem M is connected at one end to the end of rocker lever arm 42 which is pivoted at 43 to a lug member extending from tubular handle l9. Rocker lever arm 42 continues on the opposite side of pivot 43 to form a hand operating lever 44 which is spring pressed by means of spring 45 for normally maintaining valve 40 in closed position. As the pressure cleaning apparatus is moved over the object to be cleaned and the atomizing nozzle 9 directed to selected positions, the hand of the operator grasping handle I9 may also selectively actuate operating lever 44 for delivering required pressure from pressure supply hose 5 to pressure distributing conduit I under control of which the fluid cleaning spray is handledthrough atomizing nozzle 9.

My invention is applicable for cleaning various surfaces and objects. In Fig. 6 I have shown the pressure cleaning apparatus arranged for cleaning the automobile engine 46 or the fan blades 41. The atomizing nozzle 9 delivers a line cleaning spray over the surface to be cleaned. The dirt, grease or other scum or coating which is not removed under pressure of the cleaning spray is loosened or so dislodged that it may be readily wiped or scraped from the surface. In using the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, valves 3 and 22 are adjusted to provide the required flow of air and the quantity of cleaning fluid desired in the spray at the end of the atomizing nozzle. The richness of the spray may readily be controlled by adjustment of either of the valves. The cleaning fluid in the reservoir may readily be replaced through the aperture closed by filling plug 16.

The handle 8 is located adjacent one end of the tank so that when the tank is suspended in normal operation it is in an inclined position as indicated in Fig. 6 so that there is no tendency for any leakage of cleaning fluid to occur through the pressure relief port 20 of breather pipe IS. The handle 9 is so positioned with respect to the center of gravity of the tank or reservoir 12 when loaded that the device will normally occupy the inclined position represented in Fig. 6 while in use.

I have found the pressure cleaning apparatus of my invention very effective in its use. While I have described my invention in certain preferred embodiments, I desire that it be understood that modifications may be made and no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

Pressure cleaning'apparatus comprising in combination with a reservoir for cleaning fluid, a pressure conveying conduit extending through said reservoir and terminating in a spaced discharge position, a fluid conveying tube connected with said reservoir and concentrically disposed within said conduit with the end of said tube projecting from the end of said conduit, and an atomizing nozzle on the end of said conduit and enclosing the end of said tube, the interior wall of said nozzle and the external surface of the end of said tube being tapered centrally and coacting to produce predetermined velocity of air delivered by said conduit, said nozzle having successive chambers therein of gradually changing diameters adjacent the end of said fluid conveying tube for intermixing particles of cleaning fluid delivered by said tube with the air delivered by said conduit.

PAUL A. CLARK. 

